I'm looking to change out the following on the 2002 Prius: Oil Transaxle Coolant I checked with a local dealer and they want to charge $21 for the oil, which is reasonable, but they want $125 for the coolant and $165 for the transaxle. That sounds a little ridiculous. I was thinking of doing it myself. I've done it before on other vehicles, but never a Prius. Is there anything I should know about doing this? Any particular brand or place I should buy the fluids?
Engine Oil: 5W-30 viscosity, whatever brand you are comfortable with Transaxle: Toyota ATF T-IV, five US quarts needed Coolant: Toyota Super Long Life Coolant, at least two, maybe three gallons needed Transaxle ATF fluid change is easy, do a search for info. Need 24 mm socket and funnel with 3 ft. flexible tail. Engine Coolant is like any other car, look for the radiator drain and the engine block drain on the side of the engine facing the firewall. Inverter Coolant is not easy, do a search for info. Listen to the sound of the inverter coolant pump when the car is IG-ON. After you replace the fluid you have to work at getting the air out until the pump sounds the same again. Good luck.
Based on Adric's price quotes, throw $125 at the coolants unless you want to learn how to do this right. The other two are not difficult DIY.
Because it's too cold, I had dealer change both coolants in Dec at 120,000 miles instead of doing it myself. Cost was $115. With Toyota coolant at about $17 per gallon, that price was about what I expected for the service.
Are the dealer coolants important...or will any do as long as it's glycol mixture? (forgive me if this is a dumb question.)
From Toyota service manual info: "Only use “Toyota Super Long Life Coolant†or similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite, and non-borate coolant with long-life hybrid organic acid technology."
